Genesis Chapter 23

Genesis 23 (ESV)

Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place”. . . Continue Reading

Sarah Dies

The loss of a wife or husband is significant. Even though it’s not a surprise when someone dies when they’re of old age (Sarah was 127) it doesn’t make it easy for the one left behind. In many ways, it makes it even harder.

Abraham mourning and weeping for Sarah (Genesis 23:2) shows the love he had for her and the loss he was experiencing. Abraham’s desire to buy property to bury Sarah in Hebron shows Abraham’s commitment to remain in the land God promised him – at least until all that the Lord had promised him had come to pass.

I think about death from time to time. If I’m honest, I think about it a lot. My grandfather died at 49. My dad died at 50. Both were unhealthy which is why the past few years I’ve made a commitment to live healthy. I want to live! I want to live a long life, not only in service to Jesus Christ but with my love, Michelle. While living healthy doesn’t guarantee a long life, I want to do what I can to have that opportunity.

I find hope in the words of the Apostle Paul, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Thank you for reading my daily online journal today. Far from commentaries these are just my initial thoughts after reflecting on what I’ve read from a chapter in God’s Word each morning. This not only helps me apply what I’ve read because I’m reflecting and sharing instead of only reading but it also allows me to encourage others to prayerfully consider doing the same.